Mollie Knaggs: From Tennis Court to British Pickleball Star

When Mollie Knaggs stepped onto a pickleball court for the first time in January 2023, few would have predicted what lay ahead. Just months later, she would claim the gold medal at the prestigious APP English Open (the largest pickleball tournament outside of the United States) becoming the first European player ever to win the women's singles title in the professional division. Today, less than three years into her pickleball career, she stands as one of Britain's most accomplished players, an elite international competitor, and a transformational figure driving growth in women's pickleball across the UK.

Her story is one of resilience, determination, and an unexpected discovery that has reshaped her entire athletic career.

From Tennis Prodigy to Unexpected Transition

From the age of six, Mollie Knaggs envisioned a future in professional tennis. She trained intensively, competed at serious levels, and built her identity around the sport. But an injury forced an abrupt change in plans, closing the door on her tennis ambitions. What could have been a devastating setback became instead a pivotal opening—one that would lead her to pickleball, a sport she had never played before.​

The transition could have been difficult. Instead, Knaggs embraced it with the same competitive spirit and meticulous approach that had defined her tennis career. Within her first year of competitive pickleball, she achieved something remarkable: she won gold at the English Open, signaling her arrival among the sport's elite. But this wasn't a fluke. Her success was built on solid foundations: a background in racquet sports, exceptional athleticism, tactical intelligence, and an unrelenting work ethic.

Reflecting on her unexpected ascent, Knaggs herself expressed surprise at how quickly her new sport came together: "I would never have expected it," she has said of her transformation from tennis player to pickleball champion.​

Championship Credentials: A Remarkable Trophy Cabinet

In less than three years, Mollie Knaggs has compiled an impressive collection of major titles and accolades that place her firmly among the world's best female pickleball players:

Major Tournament Victories:

• APP English Open Gold (2024) – Women's Pro Singles

• European Finals Gold

• European Championship Gold

• English Nationals Gold – Women's Doubles​

• Belgium Open – among her tournament victories​

  
  

International Representation:Knaggs was selected to represent Team England at the inaugural European Pickleball Team Championship in November 2024—a testament to her status as one of Britain's premier female players. Competing alongside elite teammates including Thaddea Lock and Molly O'Donoghue, Knaggs helped Team England secure the overall championship title.

At the 2024 European Women's Doubles final, Knaggs and her partner Thaddea Lock delivered what observers called "one of the tournament's most resilient performances," competing against top-seeded opponents from France before ultimately securing silver.​

Professional Credentials: Knaggs holds an IPTPA Level 2 certification and operates as a mental performance coach, qualifications that underscore her commitment to mastering the technical and psychological dimensions of the sport.​

The Playing Style: Tennis Pedigree Meets Pickleball Precision

What sets Mollie Knaggs apart on the court is a distinctive playing style shaped by her tennis background but refined through intensive pickleball competition.

Observers consistently highlight several hallmark characteristics:

• Aggressive Baseline Game: Drawing on her tennis foundation, Knaggs commands the baseline with powerful forehand drives and controlled ball striking. She uses her baseline positioning to dictate rallies, unlike many players who adopt a purely net-focused approach early.

• Tactical Doubles Instincts: Her success in women's doubles and mixed doubles reflects sophisticated court awareness and partner communication. She reads opponents quickly and positions herself to execute high-percentage shots when opportunities emerge.

• Mental Resilience: Perhaps most notably, Knaggs brings a calm, composed demeanor to high-pressure moments. Her 2024 English Open victory over American professional Alexa Schull exemplified this mental edge—she described the win as "wild," acknowledging the emotional intensity while maintaining the composure necessary to close out matches.​

Beyond the Court: A Visionary Coach and Community Builder

What distinguishes Mollie Knaggs most profoundly is her commitment to building pickleball's women's ecosystem in Britain. While competing at elite levels internationally, she has simultaneously developed a comprehensive coaching and community program designed to inspire, support, and empower the next generation—particularly women and girls discovering the sport.

Performance Psychology Academy:Knaggs operates the UK's first performance-focused pickleball academy, blending technical instruction with sports psychology coaching. Her philosophy centers on winning the mental battle: building confidence, mastering pressure situations, establishing focus, and developing self-belief. This integrated approach reflects her background in sports psychology and her understanding that competitive excellence requires technical mastery and psychological strength.

Mpower: Female-Focused Community Events:In a sport where women have historically been underrepresented in professional ranks, Knaggs recognized an opportunity to create dedicated spaces for female players to develop, connect, and thrive. Through her "Mpower" initiative—a series of female-only pickleball events held across the UK—Knaggs brings together women aged 13 to 76, spanning novice through advanced playing levels.​

These events combine structured coaching clinics (which regularly sell out within minutes), on-court play opportunities, networking, and carefully curated gift collections—all designed with intentionality. As Knaggs explains: "The events are and always will be incredibly special to me. They are everything I hope to be and everything I stand for, inspiring and uplifting other girls and women, building their confidence and making them realise their own self-worth."​

Knaggs has deliberately expanded these events geographically, hosting them at different venues across the UK—from West London to Southampton—to maximize accessibility and reach. The coaching demand has been so strong that she's actively working to expand capacity to accommodate more participants.​

Coaching Philosophy:Beyond tournament competition and formal academy structures, Knaggs engages in one-on-one and small-group coaching that emphasizes mindset, technique, and tactical awareness. Her approach reflects both her psychology training and her lived experience as an athlete navigating transition and building resilience.

A Voice for Inclusion and Neurodiversity in Sport

Adding another dimension to her impact, Mollie Knaggs serves as a Neurodiverse Sport Ambassador, proudly identifying as an autistic athlete who uses her platform to advocate for inclusion and representation in sports. In a field still working to expand access and representation, her visibility as a high-performing, openly autistic professional competitor sends a powerful message to young athletes who may see themselves in her journey.​

Her personal practices reflect her holistic approach to athletic performance and wellbeing: meditation before matches, regular visits to a local animal sanctuary (where her favorite animals are cows), time with her French Bulldog, and a superstition that ties her competitive ritual together—she must wear a bow in her hair when competing, or, as she puts it, "I just won't win!"​

Looking Forward: Mollie Knaggs' Evolving Impact

As pickleball continues its rapid growth across Europe and the UK, Mollie Knaggs stands at the forefront of defining what professional women's pickleball means in Britain. Her dual role—as an elite competitor and as a coach/community builder—positions her to shape not just results but the culture of the sport.

In January 2026, she participated in a Pickleball England leadership development course as a tutor, describing the experience as "one of the most heartwarming experiences" of her career. This reflects her investment in developing the next cohort of community leaders and coaches—a long-term approach to building sustainable growth in British pickleball.​

Team England has already selected Knaggs for the 2025 European Pickleball Championships, signaling continued confidence in her ability to deliver at the highest international levels.​

Conclusion: A Rare Combination

Mollie Knaggs represents a rare combination in professional sport: an elite-level competitor who could reasonably focus solely on personal advancement, but who instead deliberately invests in building community, empowering others, and expanding access to her sport. Her journey from tennis-bound prodigy through injury, to unexpected pickleball star, to mentor and coach, offers a compelling narrative for sport audiences—one about resilience, discovery, and the power of showing up fully in unexpected places.

For UK pickleball enthusiasts, she embodies what's possible when an athlete brings not just talent and determination, but also intention, psychology training, and a genuine commitment to lifting others up. Her trophy cabinet will continue to grow, but her lasting impact may well be measured in the thousands of women and girls who discover their own potential through her coaching, her events, and her example.